11/27/08 Examiner - Race for Board President: Can't We Just Keep Peskin?

Recently, all my political conversations (which is to say, all of my conversations) end up on the subject of the next President of the Board of Supervisors. With current Board President Aaron Peskin being termed-out, there does not appear to be a consensus  as to identity of the next President. So, let’s just size up each of the likely choices.

It takes a majority of the Supes themselves to elect the Board President. Of the 11 supervisors, only a few are seen as serious contenders. Moderates Michela Alioto-Pier, Carmen Chu, Bevan Dufty and Sean Elsbernd are not likely to get enough progressive votes to be President.

Here is a little on each

District 1: Eric Mar

Pro: Mar is a college professor, so he’s used to dealing with disinterested children.
Con: It’ll be his first day of class, too.

District 3: David Chiu & District 9: David Campos

Chiu and Campos were endorsed in their races by The City’s Democratic Party after publicly supporting Peskin’s run for chairman of the San Francisco Democratic Party. Thing is: Peskin was running against Chiu and Campos’ longtime friend Scott Wiener. This might result in their fellow supervisors having some “trust issues.”

District 5: Ross Mirkarimi

With his booming voice, sculpted facial hair and frequent use of 50-cent words, Mirkarimi might seem a natural pick for Board President. But, according to shamelessly unsubstantiated gossip, a Mirkarimi mayoral run in 2011 would dilute the progressive votes for City Attorney Dennis Herrera, who will also run. In order to keep Mirkarimi’s profile in check, powerful progressives who are backing Herrera for mayor are working to prevent Mirkarimi from having a leadership role at the Board — or not. It’s a rumor, people.

District 6: Chris Daly

I write about drama on the board, so obviously I’ve already sent a letter to Santa Claus asking that Daly be elected President. There, he can limit public comment to nine seconds, attempt to get Mistermayor’s attention by moving the Board of Supervisors meetings to Room 200, and loudly end the Pledge of Allegiance each Tuesday with “unless you are homeless, in which case, you’re screwed.”

District 10: Sophie Maxwell

Watching Maxwell chair the Land Use Committee, it is clear that nothing angers her like public expression. As Board President, she would spend all her time yelling at people for clapping, whispering and excessively smiling. And that’s just the other supervisors.

District 11: John Avalos

As a former aide to Daly, Avalos has knowledge of the inner workings at the Board. Plus, it would be fun to see him (try to) preside over his former boss.

Although Peskin is termed-out, I wish that he could continue to run the meetings. No matter what you think of his politics, he has been a great chairman. Perhaps I’ll send another letter to Santa.

--Melissa

Comments

[mschool]

Thank you for recognizing Aaron. So many San Franciscans are quick to dismiss him, perhaps from lack of face time with this man. He has been a great chairman. He's witty, funny, and fair. And no one says "aye" like Aaron. His voice in the chamber will be missed by me as well.

[generic]

I think it'll be Mirk by a hair.

(A Spanish conquistador goatee-hair, but a hair nonetheless.)